Fr. Lino leads first celebration of the Philippine Flag Day in Barcelona

Philippine National Flag Day ( "Wagayway Watawat" ) is celebrated from May 28 to June 12 every year. This period commemorates the first unfurling of the Philippine flag after the victory at the Battle of Alapan (in Imus. Cavite) on May 28, 1898, and culminates with the celebration of Independence Day on June 12.

In celebrations in the Philippines and elsewhere, the flag is displayed on public buildings and residences during this period, as well as on other national holidays like Independence Day.

While churches may participate in national celebrations, Flag Day is primarily a civic and patriotic event, not one specifically celebrated within religious institutions. In Barcelona however, the San Agustin Church is not only the seat of the Filipino Catholic Community but is also the central place where Filipinos meet and gather together for cultural events, announcements, gatherings and celebrations.

Thus the Philippine National Flag Day found its historical first celebration in San Agustin Church in Barcelona on Sunday June 8, 2025 under the initiative, leadership and guidance of Fr. Lino de Castro.

The celebration involved the singing of the Philippine National Anthem, the Filipino Panatang Makabayan (patriotic oath) and parading and waving of the Filipino flag as well as a Filipino folk dance by the FildeOro BCN Dance Group - all integrated within the Sunday 10 o'clock morning mass,

Also worth mentioning is the special participation of the "Young Voices of the Philippines (YVP)", a parochial choir from Quezon City that was established in 2020 as a scholar choir under the Treble Choir Association of the Philippines. The Choir is on its Spain Concert Tour 2025 and it rendered the mass songs during this celebration.

A special significance of this event is the spearheading act of observing and commemorating in Barcelona the special day that reminds of the historical day when the Philippine flag was first raised.